Meet Marcus

A native of Fairbanks, Alaska, Marcus Moore began his clarinet studies at 15 in 2011. Since then, he has grown to high acclaim as a performing artist. He is now pursuing a master’s degree in Music Composition and a Graduate Certificate in Conflict Resolution from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Before continuing his studies in music and peacebuilding, Marcus served as a clarinetist with the Marine Corps Forces Pacific Band (MARFORPAC Band). As a member of the MARFORPAC Band, Marcus regularly performed in the concert wind ensemble, marching band, and woodwind quintet (Wayfaring Winds). While serving with the MARFORPAC Band, Marcus received the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for his musical contributions to the Marine Corps Music Program. He was also a recipient of the Colonel Finley R. Hamilton Military Outstanding Musician Award, where musicians from all branches of the U.S. military compete for the title. In the year 2020, Marcus was picked to play and record for the first-ever Marine Musician virtual band that consisted of musicians of the President’s Own, Commandant’s Own, and the ten Marine Corps Fleet Bands.

To this day, Marcus still performs as a freelance musician throughout the United States, Africa, and Asia. As an ensemble musician, he performed with the Royal Australian Navy Band, 581st Air Force Band, 25th Infantry Division Band, U.S. Pacific Fleet Band, Georgia Wind Symphony, North Georgia Wind Symphony, Atlanta Freedom Band, Atlanta Philharmonic Orchestra, and Georgia Sinfonietta. As an avid chamber musician, Marcus has performed with NeoPhonia Ensemble, Terminus Ensemble, Atlanta Wind Project, Atlanta Chamber Collective, Sonare Winds, and Chiaro Trio. As a member of Chiaro, Marcus was invited to give artist recitals at Troy University and the University of North Georgia and placed second in the MTNA State of Georgia Chamber Music Competition. In 2015, Marcus was selected to be a fellow, on scholarship, for the Imani Winds Chamber Music Festival, where he studied and performed chamber music with the Grammy award-winning Imani Winds Woodwind Quintet. During January and February of 2023, the Wayfaring Winds went on tour and performed throughout Guam and the state of Texas. While in Texas, the Wayfaring Winds also performed at the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) as the premier chamber ensemble of the Marine Corps Music Program. As a soloist, Marcus has performed as a featured artist for the Stonewall Music Festival (2015 & 2016), the University of South Carolina Honor Band Festival (2022), and Sound Now! Music Festival (2017, 2018, 2019). He has also had the opportunity to play in masterclasses for musicians of the President’s Own, Charles Neidich, Paquito D. Rivera, Mariam Adam, Ted Gurch, Cathy Ogram, Roomful of Teeth, Christopher Nichols, and Kimberly Cole Luevano.

As a composer, Marcus has had his music performed in Africa, Asia, and North America. Marcus won the ZAWA! call for scores in 2023, and his winning flute duo, Gratitude For Daydreamers, was taken on two national tours throughout the United States for the ZAWA! outreach program. In February of 2025, Marcus was selected to be the composer in residence for Southwestern Oklahoma State University, where his wind band piece, We Bloom Once More, was premiered. Marcus has had other original wind band pieces recorded and premiered by the MARFORPAC Band, as well as receiving commissions and publications from the New Works Project and Murphy Music Press.  

Marcus also works deeply in the international music community as an educator, innovator, and creator. His private music students consistently participate and have received principal chairs in county, honor, regional, and all-state ensembles. Students in Marcus’ studio regularly receive full rides in both academic and music-based scholarships each year for college. In 2024, Marcus was selected to volunteer in Tanzania for the Daraja Music Initiative (DMI). As a volunteer for DMI, Marcus taught music lessons to young children, pre-college/college students, and young professionals while also helping rebuild and maintain the Mpingo Tree (African Blackwood/Grenadilla) population. Marcus also volunteers as a member of the Hawaii Gamelan Society, and he is an active member of the University of Hawaii at Manoa Gagaku Ensemble. Marcus is the founder and president of the Libertalia Philharmonic, a group that consists of musical artists, visual artists, dancers, sound engineers, and filmmakers from around the world. Marcus is also a founding member and lead sound engineer of the Neo International Clarinetist Exposé, an international virtual clarinet organization. When he is not composing, performing, or teaching, Marcus is working in the music community to help promote the work of other musicians. As part of his endeavors, he has commissioned and premiered works for Marc Mellits, Dylan Findley, Nathan Bales, Margy Hayes, James Dinsmoor, Royal Teague, Brandon Smith, Glenn Zekser, T’Anna McIntrye, Emilliano Neito-Montiel, and Nick Demos.

As part of his studies, Marcus received a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Performance from Georgia State University, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude.